Irvington gang leader sentenced to 27 years in prison for drug conspiracy

U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman announced the sentencing of a reputed Irvington gang leader to nearly 30 years in prison on drug conspiracy chargesStar-Ledger file photo

IRVINGTON — The leader of a powerful faction of the Bloods street gang was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison today after pleading guilty to a drug conspiracy charge, authorities said.

Mark "M-Ease" Manasse, 28, of Irvington, was sentenced to 325 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute more than 280 grams of "crack" cocaine while he ran the Brick City Brims set of the Bloods in 2010 and 2011, U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.

Manasse was one of nearly a dozen suspects arrested by federal agents, state troopers and Irvington Police in April 2011 after a narcotics probe revealed the 28-year-old controlled a portion of the Irvington drug trade by using his gang members to intimidate and injure rival criminals, Fishman said.

Investigators claim they intercepted thousands of Manasse's phone calls, which showed he either ordered or was involved in several violent acts that helped the Brims control the local drug trade, Fishman said.

In addition to the prison sentence, Manasse will be subject to five years of supervised release and will be ordered not to contact his former gang associates, Fishman said.